Iran intensifies crackdown on Baha'i minority amid protests and war

Human‑rights groups say Iran has stepped up arrests and harsh treatment of its Baha'i community as the country faces nationwide anti‑government protests and an ongoing war with the United States and Israel. Dozens of Baha’is have been detained since January; homes have been raided and religious texts desecrated. Detainees report electric shocks, mock hangings and forced confessions, with some accused of crimes punishable by death.

The case of Peyvand Naimi illustrates the crackdown. Arrested in Kerman on January 8, he has been held for over six months without formal charges, accused of killing security agents during the protests. His family says a televised confession was made under duress and a judge ordered his release on March 7, which has not been carried out. Officials have told the family that Baha’is “will not be released.” The persecution is part of a broader campaign in which Iran’s authorities blame the minority for economic woes and label them as spies, according to UN‑based Baha'i representatives and academic experts.